Coaxial switch



Se t. 19, 1961 R. RUBIN COAXIAL SWITCH Filed June 20, 1957 PatentedSept. 19, 196 1 3,001,053 C(IAXIAL SWITCH hard Rubin, Natick, Mass,assignor to Andrew Alford,

Winchester, Mass. Filed June 20, 1957, Ser. No. 666,939 2 Claims. (Cl.200-153) .he present invention relates to a coaxial switch and ticularlyto a switch adapted to connect one coaxial selectively with anotherline. The present invention provides a structure adapted to meet acoaxial line selectively with one of a plurality other-lines.Particularly in the present invention there rovidedmeans by which acoaxial line may readily be inected with-one of two other lines by theoperation 'a longitudinally movable conductive rod. The coa1 terminalsto which the lines are connected are all unted on a common conductivehousing with their er conductors in contact with thehou'sing. The'innertdllCtOl of each terminal extends inwardly and termies at its inner endwithin the housing. Preferably the er ends of the inner conductors arelongitudinally gned with one another and are adapted to be contacted thelongitudinally movable conductive rod. The inner is of these innerconductors may be formed with a ringped structure through which theconductive rod may s. This rod should be of suflicient length to connectinner center conductors with either one of the adjat inner conductors onlongitudinal movement of the Preferably the conductive rod is connectedto a di- :tric actuating member suitably controlled for longiinalmovement of the rod. thus, it is an object of the present invention toprovide tructure in which a coaxial line may be selectively \nected toone of two other lines and in which control the switching may readilyand effectively be obtained electrical or, if desired, mechanical means.8 further object of the present invention is to provide :tructure inwhich the switch means are built within llgged structure adapted towithstand shock and to "form satisfactorily over long periods of time.Further, the present invention is designed to provide a icture in whichthe switch itself does not introduce a match into the system in which itis used. These and other objects and advantages of the present entionwill be more clearly understood when considd in connection with theaccompanying drawings in ich FIGURE 1 is a top plan fragmentary view ofthe inltion, and FIGURE 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG- .E 1.['he arrangement is horizontally symmetrical as viewed the drawings, andtherefore the portions shown broken ay at the left are symmetrical withthose elements on right. in the embodiment illustrated there is provideda cen- 1 housing 1 comprising preferably a solid piece of con- :tivematerial, having suitable openings formed thereand described hereafter.This center section or hous- 1 may have secured to it a pair of endmembers and 3 positioned at either end of the housing 1 and ured theretoby suitable means, such as a plurality of ews extending through themembers 2 and 3, into the using 1. These members 2 and 3 are each formed11 inner sections 4 coextensive with the ends of the using 1. A neck 5and outer flange 6 comprise a porn of these elements 2 and 3. An opening7 extends itrally and longitudinally through each of the elements 1nd 3and is longitudinally aligned with an opening 8 tt extends centrallythrough the housing 1. A plurality of coaxial line terminals are securedin 2 the housing 1. These comprise the terminals "10, 11 and 12. Theouter conductors of these terminals, respectively, 13, 14 and 15, aremounted in and conductibly connected to the housing 1. The innerconductors, respectively, 16, 17 and 18, are insulated from the outerconductors by a suitable dielectric member, such as the discs 19, 20 and21, respectively. These inner conductors 16, 17 and 18 extend inwardlyand each terminates in a contacting element, preferably formed byrectangular elements 22, 23 and 24, respectively. Each of these elements22, 23 and 24 are provided with longitudinally aligned openings passingtherethrough. If desired, the inner conductors may be made in severalsections with the innermost portions tapered toward the rectangularcontact or terminal, and with the outermost ends of the inner conductorsbeing provided with slits for improved contact with the lines to whichthey may be connected.

Longitudinally positioned within the housing 1 and opening for passage 8is a dielectric rod 30 which extends the length of the opening 8 andinto the members 2 and 3 through the passage 7. Conductive sleeves 31and 32 are secured on this rod. Sleeve 31 is in contact with the contact23 while sleeve 32 is in contact with the contact 22 of the innerconductors 17 and 16, respectively. These sleeves are adapted to bridgethe distance between the contacts to which they are respectively engagedand the contact 24 of the inner conductor 18, selectively dependent onthe longitudinal location of the dielectric rod 30. This rod 30 may bemoved longitudinally in either direction over limited distances toselectively and electrically engage the contact 24 with either of thecontacts 22 or 23, dependent upon the direction of movement of the rod30. This rod 30 is supported for longitudinal movement by a plurality ofdielectric supports, such as the ring 40 and ring 41, positioned coaxialwithin the opening 8. The extreme ends of the rod 30 are formed withenlarged end sections to which are connected the threaded caps 44 and45. These threaded caps 44 and 45 may be of metal and supported withinthe end sections 2 and 3. A conductive rod 48 may be threaded to thesemembers 44 and 45, with the rods 48 each acting as armatures in thecoils 49. A resilient plastic bevelled disc 51 may be screwed orotherwise secured to the free end of the rods 48 to act as a resilientcushion when the rods are actuated.

The coils 49 are wound to actuate the rod 30 in opposite direction.Thus, by energizing coil 40 the rod 30 may be moved toward the right,establishing contact between the coaxial terminal 12 and terminal 11with the inner conductors being connected through the sleeve 31 and theouter conductors through the housing. If the rod 30 is actuated to movein the opposite direction, contact will be established between thecoaxial terminal 12 and terminal 10 with the inner conductors beingconnected through the sleeve 32 and the outer conductors being connectedthrough the housing.

I claim:

1. A multiposition switch for selectively connecting a plurality ofcoaxial transmission lines comprising an elongated hollow body, aplurality of spaced coaxial transmission lines, the inner conductors ofwhich extend into said body to a position substantially centrallythereof and terminate in conducting loops aligned symmetrically about acommon longitudinal axis of said body with the plane of each loopgenerally perpendicular to said axis, an elongated member mounted forlongitudinal movement in said body substantially centrally in slidingcontact with all said loops solely along an inside surface of each loopwhich surrounds and contacts the outside surface of said member, themaximum cross section of said elongated member lying within a projectionof said loop inside surfaces, said member having alternate electricallyinsulating and electrically conducting sections, one of said conductingsections having a length substantially equal to the distance betweenadjacent ones of said inner conductors, and means for causinglongitudinal movement of said member.

2. A multiposition switch which normally resides in one of first andsecond positions for selectively connecting a center coaxialtransmission line to first and second end coaxial transmission linescomprising, an elongated hollow body, said center and said end coaxialtransmission lines, the inner conductors of which extend into said bodyto a position substantially centrally thereof and terminate inconducting loops aligned symmetrically about a common longitudinal axisof said body with the plane of each loop generally perpendicular to saidaxis, an elongated member mounted for longitudinal movement in said bodysubstantially centrally in sliding contact with all of said loops solelyalong an inside surface of each loop which surrounds and contacts theoutside sur face of said member, the maximum cross section of saidelongated member lying within a projection of said loop inside surfaces,said member having a first conducting section connecting said centertransmission line loop to one of said end transmission lines when insaid first posi- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,261,020 Crabbs Oct. 28, 1

2,477,781 Baker et a1. Aug. 2, 1

2,550,921 Greene May 1, 1

2,759,152 Charles Aug. 14, 1

2,762,881 Brockwell et a1. Sept. 11, 1

FOREIGN PATENTS 715,392 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1

Disclaimer 3,001,053.Rz'0hard Rubin, Natick, Mass. COAXIAL SlVITCH.Patent dated Sept. 19, 1961. Disclaimer filed Oct. 27, 1966, by theassignee, Amiwew Alfoml.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 2 of said patent.

[Ofiicial Gazette Januam 24, 1.967.]

